Life and Asceticism
Joseph Samakos was born around 1440 in the Cretan village of Keramoi, in the region of Siteia, to parents described in the sources as pious and God-fearing, who raised him in the fear of God. He entered monastic life at the monastery of Panagia Akroteriane and later moved to a monastery dedicated to Saint John the Theologian at Handaka, the city known today as Heraklion.
After the death of his parents, Joseph distributed his inheritance to the poor in keeping with the Gospel counsel, formally took up the monastic life, and was in time ordained to the priesthood. He became known for a severe asceticism and for an unstinting charity: the sources relate that he gave away the donations and offerings brought to him, including the prosphora, the oblation bread left over from the Liturgy. One account preserved in his life holds that after he had given away the bread set aside for the Eucharist, fresh warm bread appeared so that the offering could still be made.
Relics & Shrines
Joseph reposed on January 22, 1511, at about seventy years of age and was buried in his monastery. When his body was later exhumed, it was found incorrupt and whole and was said to give off a divine fragrance; his relics were placed in the monastery's main church.
In 1669, as Ottoman forces captured Heraklion in Crete, the priest Anthony Armakis carried the relics to the island of Zakynthos, depositing them on August 29 of that year in the Monastery of Saint John of Mantineos at Xerobounia. In 1915 the relics were transferred to the Church of the Pantocrator in the suburb of Gaitani in Zakynthos City, where they are still kept and venerated.
Miracles & Traditions
Historically Documented: After his repose Joseph came to be regarded as a wonderworker, and the sources record healings attributed to his relics, including of those suffering from blindness and demonic possession. The incorruption and fragrance of his relics, together with these reported healings, gave rise to his epithet "the Sanctified."
Traditional Accounts: On Zakynthos the deposition of his relics is observed on August 29, when, according to local custom, the relics are carried in procession through the streets of Gaitani.
